replacement screen for T400

I wont say how, but I really did a number on my laptop screen (ok, I ran over the laptop in the bag with my pickup truck - AMAZING that it seems only a cracked screen as a result!!!!!).

So I need a new screen. The current one is 42T0498, which I loved. None in stock with Lenovo.

Does anyone have other ideas on where to source this (ideally I would like by Monday since going on a business trip Tues)??

Most of the places I have tried are out of stock of the LG screen.

Any suggestions?

 

There's one here on eBay, but I doubt you'll get it by Monday since it's in HK.

 

Thanks, yes I saw that listing as well as the same listing but origin Malaysia. And some of the shipping terms (will ship in plain wrapper, value declaration under $10, etc) makes me a little apprehensive. But it 'could' go perfectly smoothly. But no chance for Monday on this one methinks, so am searching for other options first and then may resort to this one.

$750ish to have repaired by sending in to Lenovo, no idea how long it would take.

I found a couple listings for the screen at $450....

the search continues.

thanks for the link!!!

 

Ran over it with a truck and all thats broken is a screen? Wow

 

hmmm. question-

if someone bought a new t400 with a wxga led screen, could you buy one of these wxga+ led replacement screens and swap it in?

 

Yes.... the fact that I ran over it with a pickup truck is maybe the more interesting post (but it still doesnt get me a road functioning machine).

Heres the story:

I was getting in the pickup to go to a meeting and realized I forgot my keys. So I sat the computer bag against the front tire and went in and got the keys, came out via another door and got in the truck and drove off. I felt a bump as I pulled out. My first thought was that it was one of my childrens toys, but then I realized it was my laptop.

A tire mark runs right across the middle of the bag about 1/3 way in. It was the rear tire that went over it (relatively lighter than if the front would have run over it).

So I open it and sure enough the screen is cracked. But I plugged into my desktop monitor and it boots and seems to function normally, and I am typing on it as we speak. I have tried a number of things but so far cannot find any other damage other than a cracked screen (the lower 1/4 of the screen works ok even).

Not bad at all..... we will see if I can get it repaired for less than the cost of a new one, I am completely satisfied with it. (in fact if I buy a new one it will just be a duplicate)

OK, go ahead with all the comments on running over my laptop, completely deserved........

 

It's not a straight swap. You'll need to replace other parts as well.

 

thank you for the info
gah! thought i had found a way to get a t400 with a wxga+ led screen
guess not
darn you lenovo for hating the usa so much!

 

the WXGA+ LED panel is nothing to write home about and I've had both LGs and Samsungs. I am puzzled as to why people think these panels are so great. I am curious however to see the new WXGA LED LG panel in person which has better specs than WXGA+ one (contrast and viewing angles, wx5 vs wp2). If you really want, you get find a WXGA+ LED panel on Lenovo outlet, but you have to play the serial number game, because they list LED panels as CCFL in descriptions. Another option is to go through educational/state ordering if you work at a university (they have been available through there the entire time).

 

wxga+ screens have a higher resolution than wxga screens - wxga+ are 1440x900, while wxga are only 1280x800. hard to get much accomplished on a screen with that low of resolution - your icons and text would be huge! you'd have to horizontal scroll just to see full web pages. 1440x900 is much larger and gives you more room to work with without having to scroll scroll scroll up and down and side to side all the time.

i can't order through outlet because i want specific options on the t400, and wxga+ led is not available through educational ordering right now as far as i can tell - not like i can access it anyway

 

I have the CCFL WXGA+ and its actually a nice screen. I don't understand people and what they say about the t400. My screen is great and the flex is only apparent when I press way harder then I ever should.

Aside from that OP I have looked briefly and nothing yet.

 

The difference is ~11%. I don't know if that qualifies as huge, but it is noticeable. I use a t61 with a wxga+ ccfl screen and its actually not bad, (when it wasn't broken). I recently looked at getting a t400 and was unable to find a wxga+ LED anywhere, and decided not to get one over it. But that is really because I was used to that resolution and I have a second laptop with an old xga 1024 x 768 resolution for when I want bigger test. If not for those two issues, I do not think I would have a problem with the wxga screen. For some reason, I was just not willing to consider a t400 without an LED.

 

Update: I still havent ordered a replacement screen. Turns out the LG replacements are not currently available (42T0498 was what I 'had'). Currently, I will have to buy a Samsung (42T0504) version to replace.

Anyone have insights on how long it might be for the LG screens to restock (if ever?)??

Otherwise I will have to go with the Samsung (lots of posts on here comparing the two, so I was thinking if I could get it I may as well replace with the LG but now looks like its hard to source)

 

Any info you get here is a guess.

 

No, you need to replace the entire lid including the LCD cable.

 

Don't be so quick to judge. If both screens are LED, the connector may be the same for both screens, and it is simply plug and play. Additionally, the BIOS of the laptop already include WXGA+ microcode.
The same for X200 as well. If you have a CCFL screen, you can just plug it into the laptop and it will work. (I've confirmed this)
There's no need to buy exact Lenovo LCD.

 

Screen ordered off ebay successfully (very fast shipping and good packing)

NON TRIVIAL disassy/assy to replace, and I would say not for the timid. But by following the manual available online, being careful (properly sized screwdrivers, marking each screw as it came out, taking notes on wire routing details, etc), and being patient, a successful screen replacement.

A pixel exerciser confirms all is working well.

Once again, thanks to everyone on this forum for your participation, insights, and advice.

 

how much are replacement screens from ibm parts

 

well it depends. people who know the thinkpads of the past have experienced what ibm did so its only natural people will compare. if someone is new to thinkpads or came from another brand with crappy builds then the t400 is probably pretty solid in build quality because lets face it, compared to some of the competition nowadays its not bad. But one should be their own worst critic. also comparing with their own performance, the new thinkpads seem to have gone down in quality recently, even though its mostly the same guys doing the designing anyway from ibms former pc division. Also, people expect products to get better. If products are a certain quality in such a time in history then a decade later people expect it to go in the same direction but improved. Since thinkpads were known for solid build, its natural inclination is to expect increasingly solid laptops. We did not get this with the t400 as demonstrated with keyboard issues and such. Its like moore's law predicts improvement. But if intel drops the ball and throws out a slower or same speed processor people will naturally complain. And not for bad reasons i might add because at the end of the day its good for all parties involved. customers get what they want. companies do well.

 

Just for confirmation before I go out an buy the screen.

I had a high nit led screen for my t400, but I accidentally broke it. I was pretty sure that I could just buy the regular WXGA+ and swap it out correct?

Here is the link to the screen I was planning to purchase.

http://www.blisscomputers.net/lenovo-42t0504-laptop-lcd-screen-14-1-wxga-led.aspx

Thanks!

 

The Thinkpad quality has gone down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLwW...781D4B965&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=4

 

So this video proves that the Thinkpad quality have gone down? Not sure how you getting this conclusion from that video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBcW90ngh4g

Here is another video which shows that Thinkpad still got the goods and tough as ever.

 

It's just a joke, can't belive that samething happen to the OP.

 

i thought you were serious.